How to avoid specifying absolute file path while git-add

Question

Using git add command becomes tedious once the file path becomes lengthy. For e.g. git add src_test/com/abc/product/server/datasource/manager/aats/DSManger.java
Is it possible to bypass specifying absolute file path? May be using some kind of pattern or something?

I know that we can use git gui. But I want to do it using cmd line.

Thanks in advance for the inputs.

Answer 1

For unix-like systems you can always use the star to point to files, e.g.

 git add *DSManager.java

will include all DSManager.java files git can find within your source tree starting in your current working directory.

Answer 2

Here is another way to add files. Supported at the very least in git 1.7.1.

$ git add -i
           staged     unstaged path
  1:    unchanged      +61/-61 a/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt
  2:    unchanged        +1/-1 another/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt

*** Commands ***
  1: status       2: update       3: revert       4: add untracked
  5: patch        6: diff         7: quit         8: help
What now> 2

Press 2 to select update, or type u.

           staged     unstaged path
  1:    unchanged      +61/-61 a/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt
  2:    unchanged        +1/-1 another/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt
Update>> 2

Press the number corresponding to the file you want to stage. Separate multiple numbers with a comma, e.g. 1,2.

           staged     unstaged path
  1:    unchanged      +61/-61 a/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt
* 2:    unchanged        +1/-1 another/very/long/path/that/we/really/dont/want/to/type.txt
Update>>

Just press [enter] here.

updated one path

*** Commands ***
  1: status       2: update       3: revert       4: add untracked
  5: patch        6: diff         7: quit         8: help
What now> q
Bye.

Finally type 7 or q to quit.

Answer 3

With bash, you can set "globstar" (shopt -s globstar) and then do:

git add **/DSManger.java

to add all files called DSManager.java present below the current directory.

(**/ matches all directories and subdirectories.)

Answer 4

I'm not sure if I understand your question.

To add all files (not yet added), use:

git add .

If you need to add all but one file, you cold add all, then remove the files using:

git reset HEAD <file>

You can also add all files in a subdirectory with

git add subdir/

One thing that I know can be annoying is when you rename files, you need to add the new filename and git rm the old name. When renaming a directory this can be annoying. This (unix only) git alias solves this problem (put it in your ~/.gitconfig file:

[alias] ;add after this heading or create this heading if it does not exist
        addremove = !git add . && git ls-files --deleted | xargs --no-run-if-empty git rm

This adds all new files and removes all deleted files and stages it to the index.

Answer 5

I believe you can just say "git add DSManger.java" if your terminal window is currently cd into the proper folder (src_test/com/abc/product/server/datasource/manager/aats). So just do:

cd src_test/com/abc/product/server/datasource/manager/aats
git add DSManger.java

Otherwise, I can't think of any other way unless you make a separate repo.

Answer 6

Please have a look at this sample bash script which I have created for this purpose. Link to the Github Repo

#!/bin/bash
# Script Name: git-bash.sh
#
# Author: Krishnadas P.C<pckrishnadas88@gmail.com>
# Date : 05-05-2018
#
# Description: A simple script to manipulate git files.
# TODO add more options and add Error Handlers. 

#declare color variables
red=`tput setaf 1`
green=`tput setaf 2`
reset=`tput sgr0`

#print the current git branch
echo "On Branch - $(git branch)"
#Get only staged files
gitstaged=($(git diff --name-only --cached))

#Get changes not staged for commit
gitnotstaged=($(git diff --name-only))

#Get only untracked files
gituntracked=($(git ls-files --others --exclude-standard))

if [ $# -ge 3 ];
then
   if [ $2 == "st" ];
   then
       git $1 ${gitstaged[$3]}
   elif [ $2 == "nt" ]; 
   then  
    git $1 ${gitnotstaged[$3]}
   elif [ $2 == "ut" ]; 
   then  
    git $1 ${gituntracked[$3]}
   else
     echo "Invalid input provied."
   fi     
fi
#Get the new status after the command has been executed.
gitstaged=($(git diff --name-only --cached))

#Get changes not staged for commit
gitnotstaged=($(git diff --name-only))

#Get only untracked files
gituntracked=($(git ls-files --others --exclude-standard))
#print the staged files.
for i in ${!gitstaged[@]}; do
   if [ $i -eq 0 ]; then 
    echo "Changes to be committed:" 
   fi
   echo "${green}st$i - ${gitstaged[$i]}${reset}"
done
#print the changes not staged files.
for i in ${!gitnotstaged[@]}; do
   if [ $i -eq 0 ]; then 
    echo "Changes not staged for commit:" 
   fi
   echo "${red}nt$i - ${gitnotstaged[$i]}${reset}"
done
#print the untracked files.
for i in ${!gituntracked[@]}; do
   if [ $i -eq 0 ]; then 
    echo "Untracked files:" 
   fi
  echo "${red}ut$i - ${gituntracked[$i]}${reset}"
done

: 'Example how to:
#$ ./git-bash.sh 
Untracked files
ut0 - git-bash.sh
ut1 - git-status.txt
ut2 - test
$./git-bash.sh add ut 0
Staged files
st0 - git-bash.sh
st1 - git-status.txt
Untracked files
ut0 - test
ut stands for untracked files.
nt stands for notstaged tracked files.
st stands for staged files.
'

Sample output

$ ./git-bash.sh 
On Branch - * master
Untracked files:
ut0 - git-bash.sh
ut1 - git-status.txt
ut2 - test

$ ./git-bash.sh add ut 2
On Branch - * master
Changes to be committed:
st0 - test
Untracked files:
ut0 - git-bash.sh
ut1 - git-status.txt